ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmapcolombia.ashraechapters.org/METAS/sustainability.pdf · ASHRAE’s...

ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmap 1

ASHRAE’sSustainabilityRoadmapThe approach to defining a leadership position in sustainability

American Society of Heating, Refrigeratingand Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

Approved by ASHRAE Board of DirectorsJanuary 22, 2006

2 ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmap

Presidential Ad Hoc Committee

ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmap

Committee Chair

Ronald E. JarnaginPacific Northwest National Lab

Richland, Washington

Members

David L. Grumman, P.E.Grumman/Butkus Associates

Evanston, Illinois

William A. HarrisonTrane Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas

Malcolm Lewis, P.E., Ph.D.Constructive Technology Grp, Inc.

Irvine, California

Daniel Hugh Nall, P.E., FAIAFlack & Kurtz, Inc.

New York, New York

Thomas H. Phoenix, P.E.Moser Mayer Phoenix Associates

Greensboro, North Carolina


This document guides the Society’s efforts in defining a leadershiprole in sustainability.

ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmap follows a set of overarching goals:• Expand our efforts to foster sustainable buildings.• Conduct our own affairs in a sustainable manner.• Lead in researching technologies that enable the design and application of

sustainable HVAC&R equipment and systems.• Integrate building sustainability principles, effective practices and

emerging concepts into all appropriate ASHRAE standards, guidelines,research, Handbook chapters and publications.

• Partner with appropriate sustainability advocacy organizations where ourstrengths are complementary.

• Develop materials and programs related to sustainability to educate andinspire the current and next generation of members.

The Roadmap identifies and quantifies ASHRAE’s sustainability impacts,beginning with the process of setting goals and continuing throughimplementing strategies for improving those impacts in the years ahead.

The Roadmap makes several key recommendations:• Develop and maintain productive relationships with other organizations

in the sustainability field.• Raise public awareness of ASHRAE’s contributions to sustainability.• Aggressively market ASHRAE’s sustainability profile in the industry.• “Walk the talk” by practicing what we preach.• Develop educational products that assist in sustainable building design,

building operation and evaluation.• Implement the sustainability-oriented objectives in the Society’s Research

Strategic Plan.• Accelerate development of the Advanced Energy Design Guide series.• Implement sustainability certification.• Act on sustainability-related strategic directions included in the Society’s

Strategic Plan.

To ensure the success of Roadmap implementation, the followingmilestones have been established:• 2006 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – Liaisons appointed from the Society to

organizations with whom ASHRAE partners on sustainability initiatives.• Calendar Year 2006 – Implement various public relations and marketing

initiatives, including creating the Green Team, exploring sustainability as acomponent of the AHR Expo, re-focusing the ASHRAE TechnologyAwards on sustainability achievements, and writing articles for relatedindustry publications describing sustainability practices and which provideASHRAE guidance.

• 2006 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Conduct this meeting as a sustainablemeeting, conforming to accepted sustainability guidelines for meetingorganization and operation.

• 2006 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Make the ASHRAE Headquartersrenovation project a LEED EB project.

Executive Summary


• 2006 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Technology Council to movesustainability-related research projects up in priority and monitortheir implementation to ensure timely completion.

• 2007 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – ASHRAE Technical Committee2.8 “Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability” to reviewASHRAE materials and literature and make recommendations to theSociety’s Technology Council and Publishing and Education Councilregarding needed projects and publications.

• 2007 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Offer online based learning forsustainability and certification program.

• 2007 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Funding provided such that publicationof the Advanced Energy Design Guide series is accelerated by one yearfrom originally scheduled completion dates.

• 2008 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – Develop rating systems to certifybuilding operational performance for sustainability.

• 2008 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Offer a full complement of publicationsthat provide sustainable design guidance for all types of buildings and thatmake available life cycle cost analysis information of building componentsand systems.

• 2009 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – Partner with other organizations todevelop standards on all aspects of sustainable building design andoperation, including recyclability as well as a standard articulating asustainability performance metric.

• 2009 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – Publish guides for building owners thatemphasize the benefits of decision making based on life-cycle-cost analysis.


ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmap provides goals and guidance necessary toassist the Society in defining a leadership position in sustainability. TheRoadmap includes:• Background for Roadmap Development• Market Demand for Sustainability Leadership• What is Sustainability?• ASHRAE’s Goals for Sustainability• ASHRAE’s Impact on Sustainability• ASHRAE’s Relationship with Other Organizations• Implementation Plan: Recommendations for Achieving “Engineering for

Sustainability” Leadership• Sustainability Roadmap Milestones

In August, 2005, ASHRAE President Lee Burgett appointed a SustainabilityRoadmap Ad Hoc Committee with the following charge: “Develop aroadmap for ASHRAE’s involvement in sustainability. The issue ofsustainability is broad, and ASHRAE is deep and strong in some aspectssuch as energy conservation. The thrust is to identify new areas ofinvolvement, including relationships with other organizations. The outlookshould be both short-term and long-term.”The committee began its work by examining the Society’s PositionStatement on Sustainability.

That document, approved in June 2002 by the ASHRAE Board of Directors,pledges the Society’s support of building sustainability as a means toprovide a safe, healthy, comfortable indoor environment whilesimultaneously limiting the impact on the Earth’s natural resources.Specifically, the position statement calls for ASHRAE to:• • • • • Consider integrating sustainability principles into all appropriate ASHRAE

standards, guidelines, Handbook chapters and publications.• • • • • Actively participate with internationally recognized building sustainability

groups where deemed appropriate.• • • • • Promote and provide education on sustainability to its members and society

through the ASHRAE Learning Institute and grassroots chapter activities.In the years since adoption of the position statement, ASHRAE has madesignificant progress in achieving these objectives. Advanced Energy DesignGuides have been initiated, sustainability-focused educational programshave been developed, and partnerships with building sustainability groupshave been initiated.

In 2005, ASHRAE completed a broad-based, comprehensive market researchstudy of members and potential members. The primary objectives of theresearch were to examine growth opportunities and to identify how ASHRAEcan make its business practices more customer and member focused.

This research indicated strong desire among members and non-membersof all ages for products and services on green building topics, Based onthis opportunity, the Board Planning Committee in June 2005

Market Demandfor Sustainability

Leadership

Overview of theRoadmap

Background forRoadmap Development


recommended and the ASHRAE Board of Directors endorsed “Engineeringfor Sustainability” as a Society priority. It further recommended that thispriority be communicated to all levels within the Society with thecommitment of appropriate resources.

The intent of this Roadmap is to guide ASHRAE to achievement of thatvision: A leadership position in sustainability. The Roadmap will stimulateand guide the process of “doing things differently” within ASHRAE. Theresult will be an ASHRAE, which by responding to its membership, betterenables its members to make a profound impact on what it means todesign, build and operate sustainable buildings.

If implementation of this Roadmap is successful, buildings employingsustainable technologies will be in greater demand, the critical need forcontributions by ASHRAE members will be better understood, and thequality of life will be enhanced in the present and long into the future.

Through the direction and focus established by ASHRAE’s SustainabilityRoadmap, ASHRAE members, through application of advancedtechnologies, can lead the march towards a sustainable built environment,giving substance to the “Engineering for Sustainability” initiative.

The ASHRAE GreenGuide defines sustainability as “providing for theneeds of the present without detracting from the ability to fulfill theneeds of the future.”

A green building is one that achieves high performance over the full lifecycle in the following areas:• Minimal energy consumptionenergy consumptionenergy consumptionenergy consumptionenergy consumption due to reduction of need and

more efficient utilization of both renewable and non-renewablenatural resources;

• Minimal atmospheric emissionsatmospheric emissionsatmospheric emissionsatmospheric emissionsatmospheric emissions having negativeenvironmental impacts;

• Minimal discharge of harmful liquid effluents and solid wastesharmful liquid effluents and solid wastesharmful liquid effluents and solid wastesharmful liquid effluents and solid wastesharmful liquid effluents and solid wastes;• Minimal negative impacts of site ecosystems site ecosystems site ecosystems site ecosystems site ecosystems;• Maximum quality of the indoor environmentquality of the indoor environmentquality of the indoor environmentquality of the indoor environmentquality of the indoor environment.This Roadmap guides ASHRAE’s efforts in helping its members in buildingsustainability and green building design, construction and operation.

Buildings fundamentally impact people’s lives and the health of the planet.In the U.S., buildings use one third of our total energy, two-thirds of ourelectricity, one-eighth of our water, and transform land that may provide avaluable ecological function. The worldwide market for environmentalgoods and services is estimated to be $600 billion annually.

In accordance with the definitions of sustainability and green, what societydoes today impacts what happens to future generations. Efficient energyuse is of prime importance but so are the materials used, what is emitted

Why is SustainabilityImportant?

What is Sustainability?


and disposed of, and how we impact existing ecosystems. We cannot dothese things at the expense of health and well-being so it is vital to maintainexcellent indoor environmental quality. ASHRAE, as the organization ofprofessionals who are responsible for the total life cycle cost of the building– design, operation and evaluation – has expertise that impacts elementsrelated to sustainability. These elements include building materials, indoorenvironmental quality, land use, water use, and waste management anddisposal, as well as:

Energy Use

Buildings consume approximately 37% of the total energy and 68% ofthe electricity produced in the United States annually, according to the U.S.Department of Energy. Implementing energy saving technologies reducesthe cost to maintain a building. In addition, environmental concerns andthe impact of energy consumption must be considered, along with theneed to design energy-efficient buildings.

Atmospheric Emissions

The use of HVAC&R technologies is an essential element of contemporarylife. Yet, HVAC&R systems contribute to greenhouse gas releases directlyand indirectly through energy-related effects and directly through the effectof refrigerant losses. Worldwide concern for the global climate has emergedwith the recognition of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases inthe atmosphere and with reports of increased average global temperatures.Scientific evidence clearly suggests that responsible, cost-effective measuresshould be adopted in the building industry. Both release-related and energy-related effects must be considered in a life-cycle environmental approach.

Engineering Design and Architecture

As the world has increased in population and developed technologically, theconsequences of uncontrolled growth are being recognized: pollution, toxicwaste creation, waste disposal, global climate change, ozone depletion,deforestation and resource depletion, and water and energy shortages.The built environment contributes significantly to these effects. The buildingindustry’s recognition of the impacts of its activities is changing the way itapproaches the design, construction, operation, maintenance, reuse anddemolition of what it creates – toward addressing the environmental andlong-term economic consequences of its actions.

Facility Management, Commissioning

Commissioning typically helps to ensure good indoor environmental quality,reduce energy and water consumption, and improves how well the buildingis operated.

Other justifications for green design, according to the ASHRAEGreenGuide, include:


Doing the Right Thing

The motivations and reasons for implementing green buildings are diversebut can be condensed into essentially wanting to do the right thing toprotect the earth’s resources. For some, a wakeup call occurred in 1973with the oil embargo–and with it a realization that there may be a need tomanage our planet’s finite resources.

Regulations

Society has recognized that previous industrial and developmental actionscaused long-term damage to our environment, resulting in loss of foodsources and plant and animal species, and changes to the earth’s climate.As a result of learning from past mistakes and studying the environment,the international community identified certain actions that threatenour ecosystem’s bio-diversity–and consequently it developed severalgovernmental regulations designed to protect our environment.Thus, in this sense, the green design initiative began with the implementationof building regulations. An example is the regulated phasing outof chlorofluorocarbons.

Lowering Ownership Costs

A third driver for green design is lowering the total cost of ownership interms of resource management and energy efficiency. Examples includecontrolling site storm water for use in irrigation, incorporating energyefficiency measures in HVAC design, or developing maintenance strategiesto ensure continued high-level building performance.

Increased Productivity

Another driver for green design is the recognition of increased productivityfrom a building that is comfortable and enjoyable and provides healthyconditions. Comfortable occupants are less distracted, able to focus betteron their tasks/activities, and appreciate the physiological benefits goodgreen design provides.

Filling A Design Need

There are increasing numbers of building owners and developers asking forgreen design services. As a result, there is considerable business for designprofessionals who can master the principles of green design and provideleadership in this arena.

To achieve and maintain a position of leadership, ASHRAE will:• Expand our efforts to foster sustainable buildings.• Conduct our own affairs of the Society in a sustainable manner.• Lead in researching technologies that enable the design and application of

sustainable HVAC&R equipment and systems.• Integrate building sustainability principles, effective practices and

emerging concepts into all appropriate ASHRAE standards, guidelines,research, Handbook chapters, and other publications.

ASHRAE’s Goals forSustainability


• Partner with appropriate sustainability advocacy organizations where ourstrengths are complementary.

• Develop materials and programs related to sustainability to educate andinspire the current and future generation of members.

ASHRAE has an enormous impact on many aspects of the economy, andconsequently, on the environment. Its spheres of influence can be dividedinto three major categories:• The Society as an organization.• The members of the Society.• The publications, research and standards produced by the Society.

ASHRAE as an Organization

As an organization with more than 100 employees, 55,000 members andan annual budget of $17 million, ASHRAE conducts many activities thathave environmental impacts and which could be the focus of efforts toimprove their sustainability, as shown in the left column of Figure 1. Theseactivities are the direct actions of the Society, and their sustainability can bedirectly affected by policies and decisions of the Society.

A critical element in deciding to reduce these direct impacts is to developquantitative metrics of the impacts, tracking them as mitigation measuresare implemented. The process for this is that ASHRAE would establishpolicies for sustainability, with quantified goals for impact reduction andmethods for measuring and tracking progress toward the reduction goals.This could be done internally or externally in the context of becomingcertified under ISO 14001, which would be a clear statement andcommitment to the public of ASHRAE’s goals regarding sustainability.

Society Members

As a membership organization dedicated to the advancement oftechnology through educational opportunities and technical resources,ASHRAE has a unique opportunity to influence global sustainability indirectlythrough its members and others in affected industries by increasing theirknowledge of sustainability so that they can make their own activities moresustainable. (See center column of Figure 1).

In contrast to the direct impacts of the Society as an organization, theseindirect impacts are the result of the actions of ASHRAE members. TheSociety’s ability to influence and control those actions is indirect. However,through effective programs of education and advocacy, the Society canprofoundly influence its constituents to make their activities moresustainable. The environmental magnitude of these indirect impacts ismany times that of the direct actions of the Society, so it is critical toestablish metrics and track them to improve ASHRAE’s impact onglobal sustainability.

ASHRAE’s Impacts onSustainability


Training EventsPublicationsCommittee MeetingsMeetings & ConferencesFacilities

StudentsHVAC&R IndustryManufacturersContractorsTrade AssociationsEngineering Profession

UniversitiesNational LaboratoriesIndustrial Research LabsDOE/EPA/Other Federal,State & Local Governments

Members

MembersSuppliers / VendorsStaff Members

Figure 1-ASHRAE Constituencies and Activities

ASHRAE Members

Applications of ResearchReferenced StandardsCodesHandbooks/Publications

EducationAdvocacyApplications of KnowledgeHVAC&R ProductsResearchManufactureSales/DistributionService/Disposal

HVAC&R ProductsDesignConstructionOperationsMaintenance

The Society as anOrganization

ASHRAE Research,Standards, and

Publications

ASH

RAE

Role

Cons

titu

enci

esA

ctiv

itie

s


ASHRAE Publications, Research and Standards

Undoubtedly the most extensive impact which ASHRAE has had onsustainability is through its development and dissemination of intellectualwork products.

ASHRAE publications, supported in part through an annual researchexpenditure of more than $2 million, define practice within theenvironmental control industry. Its technical information includesStandards 90.1 and 90.2 for energy efficiency, Standards 62.1 and 62.2 forindoor air quality, and Standard 55 for thermal comfort. ASHRAE standardsalong with other ASHRAE publications, such as the ASHRAE Handbook,Advanced Energy Design Guides, and ASHRAE GreenGuide, areindispensable resources in engineering offices. Society standards are the basisfor codes adopted by many governmental jurisdictions and provide designprocedures and methods of testing and rating that are adopted by manyindustry groups. The right column of Figure 1 shows examples of theconstituents of these intellectual products and the ASHRAE activities whichthey both rely upon and influence.

As broad and positive as the impact of these products has been, there hasbeen no systematic effort to integrate sustainability where applicable intoall of the intellectual efforts of the Society. One could imagine that theimpacts could be even greater if such an effort were to occur. For example,an analysis of the nearly 2,400 pages of technical content in the ASHRAEHandbook reveals that there is little mention of “sustainability,” but relativelyextensive mention of “energy.” When a similar analysis of the ASHRAEHandbook relative to “energy” was done 30 years ago, there were fewmentions of “energy.” However, through systematic efforts by the Societyto integrate “energy” where applicable into all sections of the Handbook,this has completely changed.

It will be hard to develop appropriate direct metrics of these impacts, sincethey are at such a large scale (literally, the energy and environmentalperformance of buildings and other HVAC&R-related systems worldwide).Yet, there may be goals that could be set and metrics that could bemonitored toward those goals.

The general objectives of this Roadmap are to identify and quantifyASHRAE’s sustainability impacts. The start of the process is to set goals andin the years ahead implement strategies for improving those impacts. Asthis process occurs, each of the spheres of influence discussed above willbe affected and will be critical to the success of this initiative.


ASHRAE plays a unique role as the developer of intellectual products uponwhich sustainable building design and operation rests. Other organizationsare potential users of ASHRAE’s intellectual products and beneficiaries ofASHRAE’s educational outreach. Sustainability advocacy organizations include:• • • • • US Green Building Council• • • • • Sustainable Buildings Industry Council• • • • • Green Building Initiative

In addition, ASHRAE interacts with the U.S. Department of Energy and theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency on sustainability initiatives, andinteracts with national HVAC&R organizations globally through theAssociate Society Alliance.

It is important for ASHRAE to define its role relative to other players in thesustainability field. In particular, ASHRAE must develop guidelines on how itwill interact with, support or assist other organizations to maximize theeffectiveness of assets. While the relationships must be mutually beneficial,ASHRAE needs to recognize situations where other organizations may be incompetition and structure the organizational relationships in such a way asto avoid the appearance of picking winners and losers.

The relationships in sustainability might mirror the relationships in the codesand standards arena where ASHRAE works with organizations such as theInternational Code Council, National Fire Protection Association,Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, InternationalOrganization for Standardization and others. In essence, ASHRAE providesits technical resources to all of these organizations in order tofurther its mission.

Some of the recommended activities with other organizations are:• • • • • Develop standards, guidelines, and publications in areas of mutual interest.• • • • • Initiate research in areas of sustainability that help enhances the technical

quality of products and services of other organizations.• • • • • Make major contributions to programs of other organizations programs

when ASHRAE has unique expertise.• • • • • Assume a leadership role in bringing other organizations together to

advance sustainability in the built environment.• • • • • Develop memorandums of understanding that describe areas for collaboration.• • • • • Contribute technical speakers for conferences and meetings from the

ranks of ASHRAE experts.• • • • • Serve on technical panels and committees that guide the technical

development of the organizational programs.

ASHRAE’sRelationship to

Other Organizations


The Implementation PlanThe recommendations included in ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmap aredriven to accomplish the following:• Raise the awareness among all ASHRAE members that it is an ethic of

engineering to practice and promote sustainability.• Convince building owners, government and those in related professions

that total building design and performance over the life of a buildingmust drive the construction and building operation decisions.

• Provide ASHRAE members with the tools necessary to achievesustainability in new and existing buildings.

Implementing the following strategies should achieve the above objectives:

Raise public awareness of ASHRAE’s contributionsASHRAE has long provided “Engineering for Sustainability” by applying itsdiverse technology assets to the sustainability movement in energyefficiency, indoor environment and industrial processes. With growingfocus in the industry on the green movement, we need to emphasize thatASHRAE is the engineering engine that drives sustainability.

Appoint Spokespeople: The Green TeamASHRAE should identify and provide media training to members who arewell-versed in ASHRAE’s work in sustainability. This “green team” wouldbe used for media interviews regarding sustainability and related areas, suchas energy efficiency and the Advanced Energy Design Guide. In addition,media briefings or media tours could be scheduled to promote bigger effortsby ASHRAE, such as publication of new books related to sustainability,research, etc. Using the selected members would ensure that ASHRAE’smessage – we are the engineering engine that drives sustainability – gets out.

Create a Green Speakers BureauSpeakers to discuss aspects of sustainability that would be of interest tothe general public, such as indoor air quality and energy savings, shouldbe identified. These speakers would identify speaking opportunities intheir area, such as local radio stations or civic clubs, and be responsible forarranging interviews. They also could speak to ASHRAE chapters and studentbranches or chapter meetings of other industry organizations. Guidelineswould be established, explaining that the speakers are speaking as individualsand not as representatives of ASHRAE; however, the objective wouldbe for speakers to promote and make the public aware of the activities ofASHRAE. They should not offer ASHRAE’s opinion on matters of publicinterest except for the opinions contained in position documents, standardsand other Board-approved documents.

Develop Consumer-Based Green ResourcesResources in the form of kits to assist speakers and be used for otheroutreach to the general public and related professions should be developed.Such materials could include consumer-oriented brochures to distributeon relevant issues, such as how to improve energy savings in your home.

Recommendationsfor Achieving

“Engineering forSustainability”

Leadership


Exploit www.engineeringforsustainabilty.orgTo make it easier for members and others to locate ASHRAE’s products andservices related to sustainability, ASHRAE has created a Website,www.engineeringforsustainability.org.

Creation of the micro-site supports the goal of the Planning Committeethat ASHRAE should “aggressively re-package its existing sustainabilityactivity” to not only attract new members but to send the message to existingmembers that ASHRAE is setting a new course in the area of sustainability.

The site highlights ASHRAE’s position statement on sustainability, GreenTipsfrom the ASHRAE GreenGuide, the upcoming sustainability broadcast inApril 2006 and a link back to ASHRAE.org home page.

The site can be easily adjusted to incorporate other green efforts by ASHRAE,such as adoption of the roadmap or development of new products.

Increase marketing to enhance ASHRAE’ssustainability profileASHRAE’s establishing and maintaining a leadership position in thesustainability marketplace depends upon our ability to communicate thevalue of intellectual products needs to members, potential members,related professionals and other customers.

ASHRAE will add focus to its efforts through use of the positioning phrase“Engineering for Sustainability.”

Specific goals will be to increase membership among younger candidatesand to offer new products and services meeting needs of thesustainability marketplace.

Identify Our Target AudienceThere are many groups in the sustainability marketplace, but those thatstand out include:

• Young engineers• Construction professionals in related fields who are involved in various aspects of integrated building design• Architects• Engineers and other construction professionals in countries where energy

costs are high or where the energy efficiency ethic is prominent becauseof culture or governmental regulation.

Develop a Positioning StrategyASHRAE should be positioned as the ‘total building” resource, whosemembers are responsible for integrated building design, operation andevaluation. To establish a leadership position in the marketplace ASHRAE should:


• Communicate the recommendations in the Roadmap identifying whatcould and should be done in the HVAC&R/building space.

• Review the Society’s suite of sustainable-related products and servicesto ensure each reinforces ASHRAE’s role as being a leader in thesustainability market.

• Demonstrate the collective expertise that ASHRAE offers in sustainabilitythrough technical committees and chapter programming. Personalize itthrough use of testimonials and examples.

• Demonstrate how easy it is to access ASHRAE’s technical data onsustainability and how many formats are available – print, download,live instruction web-based and physically, on demand e-Learning, satellitebroadcast and DVD.

• Demonstrate the value ASHRAE technology brings to a building andindustrial process and relate that value to the engineer’s ability to providethis while meeting sustainability and fiscal objectives – through use ofnew technologies and guidance from ASHRAE resources.

Employ Marketing Driven TacticsVarious tactics to accomplish the Society’s positioning strategy should be used:• Partner with other groups to communicate how our sustainability

resources can assist others in reaching their objectives;• Explore development of new sustainability tools, such as software,

considering partnership with other commercial and non-commercialentities in these activities.

• Develop a Sustainability for Engineering presentation that highlightsASHRAE resources to be given at related meetings and conferences ofrelated organizations.

• Develop a Sustainability for Engineering presentation that highlights howbuilding professionals are achieving sustainable building design andoperation to be given at business meetings and at meetings attended byend users of HVAC&R services.

• Use the Engineering for Sustainability logo and positioning phrase onevery ASHRAE product and communication device that is appropriate.

• Create awareness in the ASHRAE Technology Awards program throughhonoring sustainable building design and highlighting use of the ASHRAEresources that should be followed to achieve sustainable buildings.

• Create a section of the AHR Expo or create a companion show thatfocuses on green technologies and use of alternative energyresources in buildings.

• Effectively use existing ASHRAE periodicals to promote ASHRAE as asource of sustainability information and to consider development of new,focused communication vehicles for this purpose as can be supported bybusiness models.


Walk the talkASHRAE’s direct impacts on sustainability can be characterized as theextent to which the Society is willing to “walk the talk” of sustainabilityin the ways it conducts its business.

If ASHRAE adopts lofty goals for sustainability in its programs andpublications but does not work to mitigate the environmental impacts ofthe ways it operates as a business, it sends a mixed message.

It seems likely that the three most significant impacts which the Society’sactivities have on sustainability are those related to travel, printing, andfacilities use. (See Figure 2) These impacts are common to many of thedifferent ASHRAE activities, even though the quantities and methods ofmitigation may need to be different.

Sustainable MeetingsOne approach to travel mitigation would be to encourage the use of video-conferencing and other virtual meeting techniques for training andcommittee meetings. However, this would not be applicable in cases likethe semi-annual Society meetings in which the physical presence ofparticipants is a fundamental aspect of meeting success. For physicalmeetings, an appropriate mitigation measure might be the purchase ofcarbon offsets for the transportation miles traveled by all meetingparticipants (a carbon offset purchases a source of CO2 sequestration,such as a tree planted, equivalent to the CO2 emitted to the atmosphereby the travel).

Sustainable ProductsFor printing, the Society can take a leadership position in working with itsprinters and paper suppliers to find sources and types of papers and inkswhich will minimize impacts on the environment. It can also accelerate thepath it is already pursuing to offer its publications in digital form, therebyeliminating the need for paper and inks. This also radically reduces oreliminates the transportation impacts associated with shippingthe publications.

Sustainable FacilitiesFor facilities, the Society has two major impacts: the operation of ASHRAEHeadquarters facility in Atlanta, and the operations of the hotels andconvention venues in which it stages its meetings.

In the case of ASHRAE Headquarters, there is the very real opportunityto make the facility an example of energy efficiency and sustainability. Thiscould include such things as certification under Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings, retro-commissioningof the building systems, implementation of performance monitoring andverification (of energy, indoor environmental quality, water, etc.). GivenASHRAE’s area of professional activity, this is truly the closest thing to


Travel (energy, globalwarming)

Printing (deforestation,water, solid waste)

Facilities (energy, globalwarming, water, IEQ)

Act

ivit

ies

ASH

RA

ER

ole

En

viro

nm

enta

lIm

pac

ts

EducationAdvocacyApplications of KnowledgeHVAC&R ProductsResearchManufactureSales/DistributionService/Disposal

HVAC&R ProductsDesignConstructionOperationsMaintenance

Applications of ResearchReferenced StandardsCodesHandbooks/Publications

Training EventsPublicationsCommittee MeetingsMeetings & ConferencesFacilities

Figure 2-Environmental Impacts of ASHRAE-Related Activities

ASHRAE Members

Energy Efficieny of BuildingStock

Environmental Performanceof Building Stock

Energy Performance(energy, global warming)

Refrigerant ImpactsMaterials UseageIEQ Impacts (IAQ, thermalcomfort)

The Society as anOrganization

ASHRAE Research,Standards, and

Publications

Mit

igat

ion

Mea

usr

es

Virtual MeetingsDigital/Online PublicationsGreening of HQ FacilityGreening of ASHRAEOperations

Procurement Standards

Integration of Sustainabilityas a Key Component

Setting Goals forImprovement

Implementing Metrics ofImpact

Education of MembersSetting Goals forImprovement

Implementing Metrics ofImpacts


“walking the talk” that the Society could do. However, it could go wellbeyond that to include establishing carpooling policies, solid waste recyclingprograms, “green” janitorial and landscaping practices, etc.

For the meetings venues, there are well-established set of guidelines for“sustainable approaches to meetings,” which could be adopted andimplemented by ASHRAE. This would involve setting standards for theconvention centers and hotels to assure that they are operating in energyefficient and sustainable manner. It could also involve setting standards forthe materials used in displays in the AHR Exposition, to encourage use ofrecycled materials and reduction of VOC off-gassing by the display.ASHRAE’s role in this would help to educate its vendors and the showmanagement company on matters of sustainability, which would mostlikely impact the ways that those same entities display elsewhere. Use ofrecycling bins and purchase of “Green Power” would also be vehicles todemonstrate to attendees ASHRAE’s commitment to sustainability.

Lead by exampleASHRAE should establish policies for sustainability in each of its areas ofdirect activity, with quantified goals for impact reduction and methods formeasuring and tracking progress towards the reduction goals. Theresponsibility for this can be distributed among the various operatinggroups within the ASHRAE organization.

Adopting Sustainability StandardsIf the Society is serious about “leading by example,” it will be necessary tofollow sustainability standards or guidelines. Without doing so, it will beimpossible to determine if the Society is now conducting its activities in amanner that has positively affected sustainability.

One of the existing frameworks for this sustainability process is thedevelopment of an environmental management system, which can becertified under ISO 14001. This is a process by which an organization doesa self-assessment of its environmental goals, setting policies which itintends to follow and establishing metrics to track its performance. It thensubmits to annual external assessment of the degree to which it is adheringto those policies and meeting its goals. Doing this would be a clearstatement and commitment to the public of ASHRAE’s serious intent tomeets its goals regarding sustainability.


Deliver educational products that assist insustainable building design, operationand evaluationThrough the ASHRAE Learning Institute, its grass roots structure, and itsorganization of specialized and international conferences, ASHRAE has anextensive educational infrastructure in place to move sustainable buildingdesign, construction and operation forward.

eLearning and seminarsASHRAE is now launching an on-demand learning program. The Societyshould explore including Fundamentals of Sustainability with perhapsseparate courses on design, building operation, and building evaluationand commissioning.

Consideration also should be given to expanding live seminar, webinars, andshort courses on sustainability topics.

Provide chapters with sustainability programmingOne resource that sets ASHRAE apart from other organizations is its grassroots communication opportunities. ASHRAE should consider schedulingof seminars in cooperation with chapters and ensure adequate suitability-related topics in the Distinguished Lecturers program. The latter identifies“best of class” speakers and makes them available to Society chapters fortheir monthly meetings.

Satellite broadcastsOne of ASHRAE’s most successful chapter support programs has been itsseries of satellite broadcasts. These broadcasts provide chapters and othergroups within the industry two- to four-hour educational sessions at nocharge. Sustainability and the Building Environment is the subject of theApril 2006 satellite broadcast. Because of their ability to focus thesustainability message to thousands of members worldwide in real time,more broadcasts on sustainability topics should be organized.

Implement the sustainability-oriented objectivesin the ASHRAE Strategic Plan for ResearchASHRAE has adopted a strategic plan for its research program. It outlinesASHRAE’s research goals for the next five years, centering on sustainability,which is defined as “the concept of maximizing the effectiveness ofresource use while minimizing the impact of that use on the environment.”

The plan contains goals in five targeted areas. These include energy andresources, indoor environmental quality, tools and applications, equipment,components and materials, and education and outreach. The initiatives inthe plan must be pursued and the results of that research made availablethrough ASHRAE’s body of knowledge.


Maintain efforts to produce Advanced EnergyDesign Guide series as rapidly as possibleASHRAE’s has partnered with other design team organizations to producethe Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings. ASHRAE needsto push forward with similar design guides that address other building typesand which move the industry towards achieving net zero energy buildings.

Focus on producing design tools andresources, such as standards and publicationsASHRAE standards for energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality,along with other ASHRAE publications, form the basis for engineering forsustainability. ASHRAE must expand these standards and publications asneeded and should deliver support tools, such as software and usersmanuals, to promote their use.

In particular, ASHRAE should use its expertise in quality standards developmentto initiate new standards in partnership with others to address sustainabilitymetrics for buildings and sustainable deconstruction of buildings.

Standards to Enhance Recycling Potential for HVAC EquipmentRecycling of post-consumer hard goods is an important factor in decreasingthe environmental impacts of today’s industrialized society. One of themajor impediments to increased recycling is the difficulty in identifying theconstituents of products so that their materials can be reclaimed for thehighest order of re-use. ASHRAE should work with manufacturerassociations to establish or improve standards that identify materials used inHVAC&R products and equipment to enhance recycling potential.

European auto manufacturers are at the forefront of facilitating thedeconstruction of their consumer products by materials identification. Forexample, components in German cars must be permanently labeled so


that when the car is deconstructed, individual components can be sortedby material for recycling. This labeling is very specific, differentiatingamong types of plastics, between thermoplastics and thermo-settingplastics, types of metals, and constituencies of composite materials.Manufacturers are made responsible for labeling the component parts oftheir automobiles and, in the future, may be responsible for thedeconstruction and recycling of the cars. Ultimately, this program coulddrastically reduce the amount of new raw materials necessary to produce anew automobile.

HVAC&R equipment is similar to the automobile in that it is constructed ofa variety of materials in close proximity to one another. This characteristicmakes efficient recycling of the equipment difficult. New standards wouldfacilitate recycling by classifying materials related to their ability to berecycled and by their compatibility with other recycled materials. Forexample, certain thermoplastics may be recycled together, while othersshould be separated. Certain materials may not be recycled at all, but mayrequire special disposal to avoid environmental damage. This classificationcould be used with a census of product composition to establishprojections and goals for materials recycling for the HVAC&R industry. Theprogram could serve as a demonstration project to American industry inhow to maintain economic vitality while reducing consumption of thelimited amount of raw materials available on the earth.

Implement sustainability certificationASHRAE should consider a certification program built around Engineeringfor Sustainability, certifying buildings that have achieved sustainableperformance and the design, operational and evaluation personnel whomake sustainable buildings possible.

For example, ASHRAE’s on demand eLearning modules could form thebasis of individual certification and quantifiable sustainability measurescould be developed to support LEED certification.

ASHRAE could develop these certification programs independently or incooperation with others.

Act on sustainability-related strategic directionsincluded in the Society’s Strategic Plan.Many of the initiatives and recommendations identified in ASHRAE’sRoadmap for Sustainability have also been identified as key concepts inASHRAE’s Strategic Plan. In order to coordinate all of ASHRAE activities asthey relate to sustainability, the Strategic Plan, when approved by the Boardof Directors, should be examined with an eye towards identifyingsustainability directions and coordinating supporting activities with otherendeavors undertaken as a result of the Roadmap.


Implementation of the recommendations should be accomplished byexisting ASHRAE committees and councils. It is not the desire to createadditional bureaucracy to manage the sustainability initiative. However,the Society should maintain at least an ad hoc function for the first severalyears to oversee the sustainability efforts and to serve as internalchampion to guide sustainability implementation.

To ensure the success of Roadmap implementation, the followingmilestones have been established:• 2006 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – Liaisons appointed from the Society to

organizations with whom ASHRAE partners on sustainability initiatives.• Calendar Year 2006 – Implement various public relations and marketing

initiatives, including creating the Green Team, exploring sustainability asa component of the AHR Expo, re-focusing the ASHRAE TechnologyAwards on sustainability achievements, and writing articles for relatedindustry publications describing sustainability practices and whichprovide ASHRAE guidance.

• 2006 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Conduct this meeting as a sustainablemeeting, conforming to accepted sustainability guidelines for meetingorganization and operation.

• 2006 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Make the ASHRAE Headquartersrenovation project a LEED EB project.

• 2006 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Technology Council to movesustainability-related research projects up in priority and monitor theirimplementation to ensure timely completion.

• 2007 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – ASHRAE Technical Committee 2.8“Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability” review ASHRAEmaterials and literature and make recommendations to the Society’sTechnology Council and Publishing and Education Council regardingneeded projects and publications.

• 2007 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Offer online based learning forsustainability and certification program for building operators.

• 2007 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Funding provided such thatpublication of the Advanced Energy Design Guide series is acceleratedby one year from originally scheduled completion dates.

• 2008 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – Develop rating systems to certifybuilding operational performance for sustainability.

• 2008 ASHRAE Annual Meeting – Offer a full complement ofpublications that provide sustainable design guidance for all types ofbuildings and that make available life cycle cost analysis information ofbuilding components and systems.

• 2009 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – Partner with other organizations todevelop standards on all aspects of sustainable building design andoperation, including recyclability as well as a standard articulating asustainability performance metric.

• 2009 ASHRAE Winter Meeting – Publish guides for building owners thatemphasize the benefits of decision making based on life-cycle-cost analysis.

SustainabilityRoadmap Milestones


ASHRAE

1791 Tullie Circle, NE

Atlanta, GA 30329

404-636-8400

www.ashrae.org

www.engineeringforsustainability.org

ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmapcolombia.ashraechapters.org/METAS/sustainability.pdf · ASHRAE’s...

Documents

Transcript of ASHRAE’s Sustainability Roadmapcolombia.ashraechapters.org/METAS/sustainability.pdf · ASHRAE’s...